Uneasy lies the league that spares a crown.

The NFL annual meeting concluded Wednesday morning with the passing of the last four of six proposed rules changes, including the controversial "crown of the helmet" rule.

It's now a 15-yard penalty for any player -- offence or defence -- to "initiate forcible contact" against another player (i.e., smash into him) using the top/crown of his helmet, when both are clearly outside the tackle box.

It is the first rule in the history of American football limiting a ball carrier's actions, outside of egregious penalties such as punching or facemask-yanking.

The Cincinnati Bengals were the only team to vote against the rule.